“It’s amazing what you can do with AI,” she said.
I nodded. “I agree, but there’s actually no AI in this at all.”
We were at the end of a Zoom call where I’d screen-shared the system I’d built for them. It takes a bunch of boring human steps and hands them to the computer, leaving the people to do the judgement bits. I love these meetings, watching people realise how much less work they’re about to have.
I get why she thought AI was involved. When you’re not the automation person, automation looks like magic in the same way AI does. Anything you’re outside of looks like magic, to be fair.
AI has actually done automation quite a big favour. A lot of people now think what’s been possible for years is only possible because of AI. So they’re reaching out to get systems built, which is great.
But the AI conversation has got so loud, it’s hiding the fact that most businesses have a huge opportunity sitting there before they even get to the AI bit.
Everyone’s asking whether they should be using AI. But do they know what’s already possible without it?